THE new look Dorset Business Awards are being launched in west Dorset tomorrow.

Organiser Dorset Business (the Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is holding the event at Minterne House and Gardens, near Cerne Abbas, at noon.

It is being held to launch the 14th annual competition for businesses in the west of the county.

A launch event to promote the Dorset-wide contest for firms in the east of the county was being held at Les Bouviers in Wimborne today.

The event at Les Bouviers has been sponsored by Mobile Media and the Minterne House and Gardens event is sponsored by Poole Audi.

Organisers and sponsors have given the awards a new look, with five new categories, a revived website as well as a new logo.

The logo has been designed by students Luke Carre, Christopher Matthews and David Higgs, who are studying the foundation degree in visual communication at the Arts Institute Bournemouth.

Details of the new elements introduced to this year's awards will be unveiled at each launch.

The 2008 Award categories open for entry include:

  • Creative Project of the Year Award, sponsored by The Arts Institute at Bournemouth and Liz Lean PR.
  • Dorset Charity of the Year, sponsored by Sunseeker International.
  • Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Bournemouth University and the Institute of Directors.

li> Environmental Excellence Award, sponsored by BP.

  • Excellence in Customer/Client Care Award, sponsored by Porter Dodson.
  • KPMG Company of the Year Award.
  • Linking with Schools Award, sponsored by the Borough of Poole, Bournemouth Borough Council and Dorset County Council.
  • Outstanding Working Environment Award, sponsored by Dorset Business (the Chamber of Commerce & Industry) & P H Warr plc.
  • Princecroft Willis Family Business Award.
  • RBS Management Team Award.
  • 2012 Legacy Award sponsored by Team South West .

There are five new categories: Dorset Charity of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Excellence in Customer/Client Care Award, Outstanding Working Environment Award and the 2012 Legacy Award sponsored by Team South West.

From June 9 the awards website www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk will be open for businesses of every size operating in all industry sectors to put themselves forward for one or more of the accolades.

It is designed and sponsored by Refreshed Media.

Managing director Simon Melaniphy said: "For the third year running, Refreshed Media are extremely proud to be selected as the online partner for the Dorset Business Awards.

"This year the site is getting an exciting fresh design to complement the new corporate branding, plus some improvements to the submission process after listening to user's feedback.

"We are very pleased to see the simple to use online application process become such a success, and look forward to making the run up to this year's event as smooth as possible for all entrants."

Peter Scott, who is chief executive of Dorset Business, added: "The Dorset Business Awards are always of a high standard and this is a credit to the businesses in the county. Past entrants have found the awards an effective means of increasing sales, boosting team building and raising their profile among customers."